TIJUANA, Mexico — On the day before Sunday's dedication of the Tijuana Mexico Temple, the leader of this popular border town made a morning visit to the temple grounds to meet with visiting church leaders. He left marveling that a single building could transform a city.
“When someone speaks about Tijuana, they're going to speak about this beautiful (temple),” said Tijuana Mayor Jorge Astiazaran Orci. “It really is a 'must see'; it's a living museum that beautifies this part of the city.”
Mormons living in the new Tijuana temple district can appreciate — and second — the mayor's endorsement. They arrived by the thousands Sunday to participate in the dedication of Mexico's 13th temple — and the 149th temple in operation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, presided at the temple's three dedicatory sessions. Accompanying him was Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The Tijuana Mexico Temple is distinctly Mexican. Built with the hacienda architectural elements of an old Spanish mission from a bygone century, the 33,367-square-foot temple anchors a sprawling campus that includes supporting offices, a distribution center, a cafeteria and other multiuse facilities.
Marble staircases, wooden doors, colorful tile work, stone floors, carved and textured glass and crystal chandeliers are just a few of the many distinctive elements completing the temple's bright interior.
Outside, the tile walkways, fountains, towering palms and gardens filled with local flowers and shrubbery seem to entice folks of all backgrounds to linger a bit longer.
For observant Latter-day Saints here, the temple's beauty stretches beyond mere craftsmanship.
“To have a temple this close changes the lives of so many,” said Inez Guzman, who attended Sunday's second dedicatory session. “Few words can describe how we are feeling.”
During Sunday's traditional cornerstone ceremony outside the temple, President Uchtdorf compared the new building to a lighthouse that illuminates and assures safe passage.
“It is a wonderful place," he said. "It is a place of spiritual celebration.”
The church leader invited young people participating in Sunday's dedication to write in their journals the highlights of the historic day.
“This is your temple. It's the Lord's house," he said. "It is a connection between heaven and earth. Remember that when you come here.”
Sunday's dedicatory session capped off a weekend of celebration in Tijuana.
On Saturday, a sprawling cast of young men and young women from the new temple district staged a cultural celebration in a professional baseball stadium located close to the temple. They celebrated the region's rich LDS history, sang, danced and had plenty of fun.
President Uchtdorf donned a colorful Mexican serape at the event to keep out the evening cold. He saluted the young performers and encouraged them to be “lighthouses” to those around them.
“Come unto Christ and you will be a lighthouse to the nation. A lighthouse to your friends. A lighthouse to your communities. You will not build up fences, but you will be a light.”
Other general authorities participating in the Tijuana Mexico Temple dedication included Elder Larry Y. Wilson, Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, Elder Paul B. Pieper and Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy.
The new temple will serve 45,000 Latter-day Saints living in the region. More than 1.3 million Mormons live in Mexico.
jswensen@deseretnews.com @JNSwensen